Missing trawler search off WA continues

Search crews are optimistic they will find three men and their missing prawn trawler off Western Australia's Pilbara coast.

Mason Carter, 26, Chad Fairley, 30, and 57-year-old Murray Turner failed to return to Point Samson near Karratha in their 13-metre trawler, named the Returner, last Wednesday morning.

An unused life raft, emergency locator beacon, ration supplies and fishing gear washed up along the Burrup Peninsula the next day.

Police continued their efforts in the search and recovery of the Returner on Saturday, with the assistance of marine qualified family members of those missing, as well as friends and the local community.

The family has also paid for a Magnetic data aircraft which monitors the Earth's magnetic fields and any changes in variation in an attempt to locate the vessel.

The plane has been conducting a search of the area since Friday afternoon and will be continuing their efforts through until dark on Sunday.

"Yesterday police, family members and marine searchers met at the Karratha Operations room to discuss what has been done, what resources are currently available and what can be done moving forward," a Western Australia Police spokeswoman said in a statement on Saturday.